What's wrong with DC? It's expensive as hell (although less so than NYC and SF), but there's a lot to see/do in terms of culture, museums, nightlife. Restaurant scene isn't too bad either. Maybe I'm incredibly easy to please, but I couldn't see myself being bored in Washington. It's also an excellent place to raise a family; there are also a lot of class-A suburbs in Montgomery County, MD/most of northern VA.